Although vaping while driving is NOT itself an illegal act, it is up to the discretion of police officers to determine what they deem as a potentially dangerous and distracting hand-held electronic device, reports the Mirror .

Police have warned of the risks of vaping while driving

Police chiefs said that vaping - which causes excessive amounts of clouds and may momentarily blind drivers - could result in fatal crashes.

Those deemed to be distracted by e-cigarettes could be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention, the penalty of which can be disqualification, three to nine points on your licence, or a fine of up to £2,500.

The warning by senior officers today comes as latest figures reveal over three million people in the UK now use e-cigarettes, with the majority of them driving.

Sergeant Carl Knapp, with the Sussex Road Policing Unit, said: "The smoke caused by vapes are a distraction and the consequences of them can be dire, all it takes is a moment to become distracted and potentially cause a crash and even worse, a fatality."

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Sgt Knapp who has been with the force for 22 years added: "I strongly advise people to pay 100 percent attention to the roads when driving as anything that takes that attention away has the potential of severe consequences.

"There are no laws prohibiting vaping, however, you need to be in full and proper control of your vehicle at all times.

"If you are going to vape I advise that you open your windows and blow the vapour directly out, just ensure that you are in full control of your vehicle before doing so."

Sergeant John Davis of Surrey Police echoed this comment, adding: "Any person who is distracted in any way could be guilty of an offence - whether that be smoking, vaping or eating.

"With regards a scenario where someone could potentially be either distracted or have reduced visibility then there is potential for a crash."

Many drivers are aware of the dangers of sun glare when driving which can partially impair the driver's vision - in some cases causing crashes.

It has been suggested that vaping could cause a similar visual impairment to sun glare, therefore possibly resulting in similarly fatal incidents.

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Road unit police said that although no new laws will be passed to directly relate to driving and vaping they will use the power they already have to make sure everyone is driving in line with the law.

A spokesperson for the Department of Transport said: "We believe that drivers should always follow the rules set out by the highway code and must always exercise proper control of their vehicle and avoid any distractions, including vaping."